Research Article
The long-term benefits of nucleos(t)ide analogs in compensated HBV cirrhotic patients with no or small esophageal varices: A 12-year prospective cohort study- Pietro Lampertico1,
- Federica Invernizzi1,
- Mauro Viganò2,
- Alessandro Loglio1,
- Giampaolo Mangia1,
- Floriana Facchetti1,
- Massimo Primignani1,
- Manol Jovani1,
- Massimo Iavarone1,
- Mirella Fraquelli3,
- Giovanni Casazza4,
- Roberto de Franchis5,
- Massimo Colombo1, ,
- 1 “A.M. and A. Migliavacca” Center for Liver Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- 2 Division of Hepatology, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
- 3 Division of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- 4 Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- 5 Division of Gastroenterology, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Received 22 October 2014, Revised 14 May 2015, Accepted 8 June 2015, Available online 19 June 2015
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Background & AimsEsophageal varices (EV) are a marker of disease severity in compensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) which predicts also the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), clinical decompensation and anticipated liver related death. The dynamics and prognostic significance of EV in patients under long-term HBV suppression by nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUC), are poorly known. MethodsA standardized protocol (Baveno) including 414 upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies was applied to 107 HBeAg-negative compensated cirrhotic patients (93% Child-Pugh A) during a median of 12 (range 2 to 17) years of NUC therapy. Patients who initially started on lamivudine (LMV) and then developed resistance (LMV-R), were rescued by early administration of adefovir, or were switched to tenofovir. Surveillance included serum HBV DNA every three months and abdominal ultrasound every six months. ResultsTwenty-seven patients had baseline F1 EV which regressed in 18, remained unchanged in eight and progressed in one patient; the 12-year cumulative incidence of EV regression was 83% (95% CI: 52–92%). De novo F1/F2 EV developed in 6/80 patients with a 12-year cumulative incidence of 10% (95% CI: 5–20%). Six of seven patients with de novo varices or progression of pre-existing varices had either a clinical breakthrough due to LMV-R and/or developed a HCC. No bleedings from ruptured EV occurred, 12 patients died (9 HCC) and 15 were transplanted (13 HCC): the 12-year cumulative incidence of HCC and overall survival was 33% (95% CI: 24–42%) and 76% (95% CI: 67–83%), respectively. ConclusionsLong-term pharmacological suppression of HBV in HBeAg-seronegative patients with compensated cirrhosis leads to a significant regression of pre-existing EV accompanied by a negligible risk of developing de novo EV.
Abbreviations- EV, esophageal varices;
- NUC, nucleos(t)ide analogs;
- GI, gastrointestinal;
- LMV, lamivudine;
- LMV-R, lamivudine resistance;
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma;
- HBV, hepatitis B virus;
- HVPG, hepatic venous pressure gradient;
- EGDS, esophago-gastroduodenoscopy;
- PHG, portal hypertensive gastropathy;
- GOV, gastro-esophageal varices;
- IGV, isolated gastric varices;
- LT, liver transplantation;
- RWM, red wale marks;
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus;
- US, abdominal ultrasound
Keywords- Hepatitis B virus;
- Cirrhosis;
- Esophageal varices;
- Nucleos(t)ide analogs;
- Gastrointestinal bleeding;
- Hepatocellular carcinoma;
- HBsAg clearance;
- Transient elastography
Corresponding author. Address: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy. Tel.: +39 0255035432; fax: +39 0250320700.
Copyright © 2015 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. |